Steal This Press Conference!

September 16, 2010

Actually, the title of this post should be: “If you don’t like the news, why not go out and make your own?” The above question is a quote from “Steal This Book“, a social instruction guide written by Abbie Hoffman in the 1970′s. Hoffman was a master at getting free publicity for his causes in [...]

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Holy Mackerel! What’s the Best Speaker Gift Ever?

August 13, 2010

Recently, I received a can of mackerel as a gift. It wasn’t a speaker gift. It was, however, an unusual gift. It was also an unusually thoughtful gift. How so? A week earlier, I told an off-topic story. I heard an interview on NPR that fish at the bottom of the food chain — sardines, [...]

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How can you help the socially tone-deaf?

July 22, 2010

I’m not a sports fan. There! I’ve said it! However, I know that appreciating sports is a big part of international culture. To this extent, I am mildly conversant in the language of sports. While I don’t enter into sports-related conversations with any depth or passion, I can listen. I can value the enthusiasm of [...]

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Top 3 Ways Presenters Can Make Sex Boring

July 7, 2010

Let’s imagine that you’re asked to give a presentation about sex. Really! Your audience of adult coworkers are eagerly anticipating the fascinating insights you’re going to share with them in your one-hour presentation. I’m seriously asking you to imagine this. Go ahead. Giggle, blush, scoff —  but ask yourself: How might you prepare? What might [...]

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Professorial PowerPoint Humor

June 23, 2010

I’ve only been teaching at the college level for a few terms. One of the chief complaints I hear from students about PowerPoint lectures (from other instructors!) is the unbearable boredom when a professor uses the pre-packaged presentations included with the course textbook. These CDs contain mostly bullet-point outlines of the entire book. Yes, you [...]

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What is the most interesting part of your presentation?

May 24, 2010

Let’s say you’ve been asked to stand & deliver a one-hour presentation to a large business audience. So you craft a presentation. You rehearse. At this point, it’s time to deploy an old speechwriter’s tip. Ask yourself: “What is the single most interesting part of my presentation?” Answer honestly. Your response should give you some [...]

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How much health info should you share on FaceBook?

May 14, 2010

Stop discussing your family’s medical conditions on social media channels like FaceBook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Stop blogging about your children’s illnesses. Please. You want support and information? Pick up the phone and talk one-on-one with medical professionals. Join a confidential support group. Discuss your concerns over dinner with your family and loved ones. Get counseling. [...]

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How Twitter is like a Native American Talking Circle

April 15, 2010

What if you were to approach Twitter as if it were a Native American Talking Circle? In the Talking Circle format, you value every voice equally. You listen respectfully. Everyone can contribute. You share your soul, learn from others, and make decisions. You build ideas and relationships in a collaborative environment. The Talking Circle uses [...]

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End hiccups instantly with this amazing mind trick

April 8, 2010

I haven’t suffered from a case of the hiccups in over 40 years. And I have helped dozens of people end bouts of hiccuping instantly — without props, goofiness, or drama. All you need is the power of your own mind. Here is what you do if you ever get a hiccup: talk to yourself, [...]

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Be yourself? Why not be someone else?

March 12, 2010

Say you’re giving a live presentation to a large audience. And let’s say this is not something you do on a regular basis. You might be a little nervous about your presentation, so you turn to friends or the internet for some public speaking advice. As you do, you’ll undoubtedly hear or read this strange [...]

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